Challenges ahead for DPHE, Community Services next year

The two Washington County agencies at the forefront of dealing with the health and safety of county residents face the dual challenges of changing regulations and a struggling economy that has more residents seeking help, the Board of Commissioners were told Tuesday.

Community Services Director Dan Papin and Department of Public Health and Environment Director Lowell Johnson presented their departments’ 2013 budget proposals to commissioners at a workshop.

Programs under Community Services represent the county’s largest expenditure, with a proposed 2013 budget of more than $38.7 million, up more than $1.2 million from the department’s $37.5 million 2012 budget.

Nearly half the Community Services budget, almost $17 million, comes from the county tax levy. About one-third, or slightly more than $19 million, is federal money. The remainder of the department’s budget is state funds, money from other sources and less than one percent from the fund balance.

Almost 40 percent, or nearly $15 million, of the DCS budget is spent on social services. Another $10.3 million, or nearly 27 percent is spent on economic support. Mental and chemical health treatment costs account for more than 20 percent of DCS expenses, followed by $3.3 million, or 8 percent, spent on Workforce Center programs; almost $2 million, or 5 percent on administration costs and $188,200, or less than one-half percent, on Veterans services.

For DPHE, almost 50 percent of revenue in its proposed $13.3 million 2013 budget comes from the county environmental charge. Federal and state grants make up 22 percent, the levy and fees both make up 10 percent, licensing 8 percent and other sources one percent.

Johnson said DPHE’s reliance on the county environmental charge gives the department flexibility in spending money.

Environmental issues account for 62 percent of DPHE expenditures, according to Johnson.

Papin admitted that his department’s revenues rely “disproportionally” on the tax levy. That reliance on the levy, he said, is a result of cuts in state and federal aid programs.

Those cuts come as the DCS continues to see increasing numbers of residents seeking county help for health care and food since 2008 recession, Papin said. DCS figures for May show 9,431 health care and 4,315 food support cases.

“Our health care caseload continues to grow,” he said. “Our staffing has remained relatively flat. It’s the same story in food support. We’ve seen a 120 percent increase since the start of the recession.”

Because current DCS staff is spending “too many man hours to determine” applicants’ eligibility, Papin has requested two more eligibility specialists.

In social services, Papin said DCS workers are seeing more financial exploitation cases involving elderly residents; more requests for aid from parents with autistic children, and a growing list of child care assistance cases.